Picture-supporter.



E.'F. BRADT.. PIGTUREYSUPPORTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17. 1907.

PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

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ATTORNEYS 1n: NORRIS PETERS cc., wAsl-lmcwn, n. c.

PATBNYTED MAY 5, 1908. E. F. BRADT. PICTURE SUPPORTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17. 1907.

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INVENTOH. $2562 5 E Bradt I w/mEssEs Qfimwba;

ATTORNEYS nu: NORRIS PErlRtCQ, wAsl-lmcrrm, a. c.

ELBERT FONDA BRADT, OF SGHENEGTADY, NEW YORK.

PICTURE-SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Application filed April 17, 1907. Serial No. 368,783.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'ELBERT FoNDA BRADT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Picture-Supporter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to picture hangers and easels, and has for its principal object to provide a support for pictures, which can be adjusted to t pictures of different sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sup ort which can be adjusted so that it can be ung on the wall under difierent conditions, or be su ported with legs and a standard, as an easel? Other objects of the invention provide for theconstruction of the parts so that they can be taken apart and packed in a small space and which also enable the device to be manufactured at trifling expense, with theparts interchangeable.

In the following specification, l disclose one form of my invention which is shown in the accom anying drawings forming part of this speci cation, but I do not limit myself thereto as I consider myself entitled to all forms and embodiments of the device which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

ing drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding Cparts in all the figures. Figure 1 shows the evice assembled with the legs and a standard to form an easel on which a picture is su ported. Fig. 2 shows the device assemblec without the legs and standard to be used as a Wall support or hanger for pictures. Fig. 3 shows the cross bar on an enlarged scale on which the side ieces are bound. Fig. 4 shows, on an en.- arged scale, the two side pieces which are ad'usted on one side of the cross bar, the view being taken before the side pieces are swung into position to hook on the pin in the head piece Fig. 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, the head iece. Fig. 6 shows, on an enlarged sca e, one of the legs used when the device is used as an easel, Fig. 7 shows, on an enlarged scale, the binder which is used to lock the side pieces to the cross bar and Fig. 8 shows a rear elevation of Fig. 1, with the standard 14 removed, and Fig. 9 shows a rear elevation of Fig. 2.

Reference is to be had to the accompany- Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the side ieces 1 and 2, respectively, are each provided with rack like portions 3, near one of their terminals, which are arranged so that the racks will face in opposite directions. The upper side pieces 1 have hooks 4 on their other terminals and the lower side ieces 2 have each an orifice 5 near its ot er terminal, which is surrounded by an oblong member 6 which extends to the terminal. The upper and lower side pieces 1 and 2, respeotively, are assembled and held in lace by binders 7, the arrangement being s own in Fig. 4, where the upper and lower side pieces 1 and 2 are arranged on one side of the cross bar 8 which has rack-teeth thereon and the binder has been slipped into place reparatory to swinging the side pieces so t at the hook 4 on the upper side bar 1, will be dis osed over the center of the cross bar 8. en the binder 7 has been slipped over the two side pieces 1 and 2 and the cross-bar 8 as they are side by side, the side pieces are rotated to the left around a center which is formed by the pivoting of the said side pieces at one oint to the cross-bar 8 by the binder 7, whic fits the rack-teeth in the side pieces, and also those in the cross-bar 8. The binder,

when it is in the position shown in Fig. 4,

allows sufficient play to permit the top of the side pieces to move to the left far enough to be disposed over the center of therack-teeth cross-bar 8 when it may be secured in this position as will be hereinafter set forth. The rack-teeth cross-bar 8 is adapted to hold the side pieces at each side extended to the predetermined length, and also the side pieces at each side at a predetermined distance from each other.

The rack-teeth in the cross-bar 8 are ada ted to securely hold the binder at the presetermined position along its length, and as stated, the said binder 7 is adapted to hold the side pieces extended to a predetermined length, and also to pivot them to the cross bar 8 at a predetermined lace. The side pieces on the other side of t 1e cross bar will be assembled in the same manner. When the side pieces have been adjusted to the right length on the cross bar, thehooks 4 are secured on a pin which passes through holes 10 in the front and back of the head-piece 9. The hooks being dis osed side by side on this pin, the sets of si e pieces being disposed psi on different sides of the cross-bar 8 if necessar The said pin may be driven into the wa or a bolt may be substituted for the pin which will furnish a permanent support for hooks 4 on the upper side pieces. The latter arrangement is especially serviceable when the picture su port is to be secured in place by a molding hanger. The oblong opening 11 in the head iece 9 is adapted to receive a hook of a mol ing han er, and Fig. 2 shows the icture support he d in position by this met od.

When the picture sup ort is used in connection with the legs an the standard as an easel, I propose to use a screw which passes from the back through the head of the pic ture support and is screwed into the picture frame. The hooks 4 are then caught on this screw. Screws 12, having hooks on the ends, are screwed into the bottom of the picture frame, the hooks on the screws being adapted to catch in the orifices 5 in the lower side ieces. By this simple arrangement, a light but very strong frame can be built with few parts and with the strain evenly distributed. The binder 7, when properly dis osed on the side pieces, locks them secure y in place when they are twisted so that the hooks on the up er side pieces can be caught on the pin or b olt which passes through the head.

The cross bar 8 has secured on one face a member 13 with a hook and socket, the hook being used to secure the picture frame at an angle by means ofa wire or chain 14 and the socket being used when the cross bar is adjusted on the other side of the picture suport to receive the standard 14 of the easel. en the picture frame is in use as an easel, the legs 15 are used. These legs are 1nor tised at 16 to adapt them to receive the lower terminals of the lower side pieces 2, the oblong projecting pieces 6 sliding in the slot 17 which is cut through one face of the leg to the recess.

By referring to Figs. 8 and 9 the position of the side pieces 1 and 2 with reference to the cross-bar 8 will be seen. When the several members have been adjusted and the picture has been secured in place, the supporter holds the picture firmly, the weight of the picture assisting in keeping the members in position. However, there is ample play in the binders to enable the user to readily remove it when the side pieces 1 and 2 and the cross-bar 8 are side by side. As shown in Fig. 8, the lower side pieces 2 may be paral lel with the sides of the picture, so that they can be adjusted with the legs 15, or they can 1lire adjusted as shown in the dotted lines in In ad'usting the side pieces 1 and 2 at one side of t e cross bar 8 by means of the binder 7, the side pieces and cross bar should be disposed side by side and the binder, which should be constructed to fit them snugly, should be slipped over them to the predetermined place, when the side pieces may be twisted to meet the pin in the head piece which will securely fasten the side pieces and cross bar together. The same procedure may be followed at the other side of the cross bar, but it may be found to be advisable to fasten the second set of side pieces on the other face of the cross bar. By reversing the operation, the members may be taken apart. When the side pieces are secured on the cross bar, the picture supporter may be used on the wall or as an easel. it may be fastened to the wall by a pin which passes through the holes in the head piece and affords supports for the hooks on the upper side pieces; or, it may be held on the wall by a molding hanger, in which fastened to the head piece through the holes therein which will afford a support for the said hooks. When the picture supporter is used as an easel, a screw is passed through the holes in the head piece from the back which screw is screwed into the picture frame. The bottom of the picture frame is secured to the picture supporter by screwing hooks into the picture frame, the hooks catching in the orifices in the terminals of the side pieces. As stated, the legs may be slipped over the terminals of the lower side pieces and a standard may be introduced in the socket on the member 13 on the cross bar 8, or the hook on the said member may be used to fasten a wire or chain which is secured to the picture frame.

Having thus described my invention, I

When used on the wall, 1

case a bolt is claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A picture supporter, comprising extension side pieces having hooks on their up er terminals,h a (prossbar secured to the side pieces, a ea iece, a in assing throu h the head piece on whibh the hooks may catch, means to secure a picture to the picture supporter, and means to hold the picture supporter in place.

2. A picture supporter, comprising side pieces having hooks on their upper terminals, a cross bar adapted to be secured at predetermined elevations to the side pieces, a head piece, a pin passing through the head piece on which the hooks may catch, means to secure a picture to the picture supporter, and means to hold the picture supporter in place.

3. A picture supporter, comprising side pieces having hooks on their upper terminals, a cross bar, binders adapted to secure the cross bar at different elevations on the side bars, a head piece, a pin passing through the head piece on which the hooks may catch, means to secure a picture to the picture supporter, and. means to hold the picture supporter in place.

4. A picture supporter, comprising extension side pieces which are angularly disposed with reference to each other, the side pieces being adapted to be fastened together at one set of terminals, a cross bar which is adapted to be secured to the side pieces at a plurality of predetermined positions, means to secure a picture to the picture supporter, and means to hold the picture supporter in place.

5. A picture supporter, comprising side pieces which are adapted to be disposed at different angles to each other, a head piece, the said side pieces being detachably secured to the head, a cross bar which is adapted to be secured to the side pieces at different distances from the head piece, means to secure a picture to the picture supporter, and means to hold the picture supporter in place.

6. A picture su porter, comprising side pieces on which rac {S extend for a portion of their length, means to detachably secure the terminals of the side pieces together at one end, a cross bar on which racks extend for a portion of its length, binders adapted to fit the rack teeth in the cross bar and side pieces to hold them together, means to secure a picture to the picture supporter, and means to hold the picture supporter in place.

7. A picture su porter, comprising side pieces on which rac s extend for a portion of their length, the said side pieces having hooks on their upper terminals, a head piece, a pin passing through the head piece which is adapted to receive the hooks on the side pieces, a cross bar which is in the form of a rack for a portion of its length, binders which are adapted to fit the rack teeth on the side pieces and cross bar and hold them relatively in a plurality of predetermined positions, means .to secure a picture to the picture supporter, and means to hold the picture supporter in place.

8. A picture supporter, comprising side pieces which are in the form of racks for a portion of their length, the said side pieces having hooks on their upper terminals, a head piece, a pin passing through the head piece, which is adapted to receive the hooks on the side pieces, a cross bar which is in the form of a rack for a portion of its length, binders which are adapted to fit the rack teeth on the side pieces and the cross bar and hold them relatively in a plurality of predetermined positions, a socket on the cross bar,-

a standard adapted to lit said socket, and legs having mortised terminals which are adapted to fit the lower terminals of the side pieces, there being a slot in one face of each of the terminals of the legs.

9. A picture supporter, comprising extension side pieces w ich are adapted to be disposed to each other, means to hold the extension side pieces at a predetermined angle with reference to each other, the side pieces being adapted to be fastened together at one set of terminals, and means to the picture supporter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELBERT FONDA BRADT.

Witnesses:

FLOYD L. BAKER, LUTHER Ooox.

secure a picture to at a plurality of angles with reference 

